Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner

Once everyone had left, Minamoto Tamako went to the front desk to settle the bill. Miyazaki Shizuka handed her the invoice, and she glanced at it, asking, "Why is there a string of phone numbers here?"

"That's the fee." Miyazaki Shizuka explained with a smile.

Minamoto Tamako gasped, feeling like robbing a bank wouldn't earn money this fast; it was just a two-hour consultation, yet it was so expensive?

Perhaps sensing her confusion, Miyazaki Shizuka elaborated on the invoice details. Only then did Minamoto Tamako realize that the big expense was for the "off-site diagnosis" fee.

What to do?

Such a hefty fee, surely she couldn't afford it!

Minamoto Tamako hesitated about whether to dip into that huge sum of "ill-gotten gains"; paying someone's medical bills shouldn't be considered personal gain, right?

But upon reconsideration, this windfall came from Uesugi Shion, who, as Cat Island's designer, used innocent lives as a bargaining chip. This blood money couldn't be used for herself!

At that moment, Fushimi Roku leisurely walked out of the bathroom, his legs a bit numb from sitting too long. Minamoto Tamako quickly grabbed him, turning her back to Miyazaki Shizuka, and whispered about what to do with the fee.

"Go through the public account reimbursement policy."

Fushimi Roku thought there was no need to discuss further; he directly pulled out his credit card, slapped it on the table like a wealthy tycoon, asking Miyazaki Shizuka to charge it and requesting an invoice.

Taking the credit card, Miyazaki Shizuka was about to turn to settle the bill when Fushimi Roku suddenly called her back, saying, "Oh, right, I just remembered, can you…"

Leaning forward and lowering his voice, avoiding Minamoto Tamako, he said, "Report a bit more."

By falsifying the invoice, Fushimi Roku could get a kickback.

Minamoto Tamako had keen hearing; despite Fujimura-kun speaking quietly, she heard him clearly and immediately scolded Fujimura-kun for such office exploitation.

Exposed, Fushimi Roku didn't feel ashamed one bit, merely sighing lightly, revealing a helpless expression, "I just want to save a little more money before my end, leaving more living expenses for Sakurako..."

Then, he turned to reproach Minamoto Tamako: "You think it's for personal greed? I am dying; you can't take money with you when you die, why would I want so much?"

Minamoto Tamako was shocked, remembering that Sakurako was Fujimura-kun's sister. Initially lonely and helpless, she finally found a relative; if Fujimura-kun died, wouldn't she truly become an orphan?

Upon reflection, Minamoto Tamako felt deep shame, realizing she hadn't considered Taira Sakurako at all nor acknowledged Fujimura-kun's struggles as her brother.

"But still, it's wrong to do this, taking money one shouldn't take…"

Hesitating, Minamoto Tamako thought to say: 'If you die, I'll take good care of Sakurako'; but such words seemed too heavy, unable to say them at the moment.

Miyazaki Shizuka, having observed for a while, suddenly interjected: "Is Mr. Fu terminally ill?"

Both turned their heads; unsure why Miyazaki Shizuka asked. Minamoto Tamako felt there was nothing to hide, so she nodded, "Yes… Can terminal patients get a discount?"

"Sorry, no." Miyazaki Shizuka declined with a smile.

Minamoto Tamako muttered inwardly: 'Then why ask…'

Miyazaki Shizuka stood without leaving, continuing to ask: "Confirmed it's untreatable?"

"Most likely, hope is slim…" The more Minamoto Tamako listened, the more she felt uneasy, couldn't help but inquire, "Why are you asking?"

"We also provide hospice care services."

Miyazaki Shizuka bent down to retrieve a brochure from the drawer, slowly introducing, "Many people don't know, terminal patients endure immense psychological pressure before the end, partly guilt towards family, partly the anxiety of facing death daily…"

She paused a bit; seeing Minamoto Tamako didn't interrupt, she continued: "Studies show that ninety-seven percent of terminal patients have contemplated suicide. Though terminal patients are indeed soon to die, they likely wish to leave with dignity as well…"

With that, Miyazaki Shizuka pointed to the brochure's tagline: "Please see, we offer hypnosis pain relief services, of course requiring a hospital prescription for morphine…"

Minamoto Tamako held the brochure, carefully reading for a while; she really had these concerns, worried what if Fujimura-kun couldn't bear it and wanted to commit insurance fraud by suicide?

Back when she was working at the Nakagawara Police Station as a patrol officer, she encountered similar cases: a terminally ill father falsifying the health situation, investing in high insurance then faking suicide for fraud… Horie Junko's father was suspected of similar actions.

Listening to Miyazaki Shizuka's introduction, Minamoto Tamako felt puzzled, asking: "Why does hypnosis require morphine?"

"There are many types of hypnosis, the most common and least side-effect one is verbal hypnosis, there's also pharmaceutical hypnosis… like using neural drugs, quickly putting patients into deep sleep." Miyazaki Shizuka explained.

Fushimi Roku sat on the sofa listening in; he only cared whether Miyazaki Shizuka did mark up the invoice, not concerned with the so-called hospice care at all.

Hearing Miyazaki Shizuka explaining hypnosis methods, he casually asked, "Wouldn't just using morphine for pain relief suffice? Why go through all this extra trouble?"

Terminal patients often face immense pain at the disease's late stage, requiring morphine for pain relief to maintain basic sleep. Originally, morphine served as a clinical treatment drug, later abused due to its strong addictive properties becoming d-product.

"Injecting morphine can't maintain wakefulness; prolonged morphine injections deteriorate mental state… I can avoid these side effects, ensuring patients live like normal people until total organ failure."

Miyazaki Shizuka clasped her fingers together, placing them on her knees, sincerely saying, "I just hope everyone lives in a world without pain."

A difficult-to-describe maternal glow radiated from her again, seemingly able to make one forget all ailments, returning to a mother's warm embrace.

Moved, Minamoto Tamako felt it necessary to buy "hospice care service" for Fujimura-kun… Just as Miyazaki Shizuka said, terminal patients cannot live normally in late stages of disease; Fujimura-kun said he could live for another six months, but the real time to interact normally could be even less.

She eagerly flipped the brochure to see the prices, finding an even longer string of phone numbers.

…So expensive.

But if the effects were truly as miraculous as Miyazaki Shizuka said, Minamoto Tamako felt this expense wasn't wasted.

The problem is, she doesn't have the money.

Would she have to use those ill-gotten gains?

Minamoto Tamako thought using the money for terminal patient care should be considered a righteous use; she immediately decided to let Fujimura-kun have a try—upon seeing a "trial package" on the brochure, she thought visiting the clinic for immediate experience seemed worth a shot.

Fushimi Roku said it wasn't necessary; he was mentally healthy.

Miyazaki Shizuka with sympathetic eyes, slightly opened her arms, gently said, "Surely you have many unspeakable emotions trapped inside, right? It's okay, feel free to chat with me privately…"

Fushimi Roku glanced at her chest briefly; her attire was appropriately modest with the neckline tightly wrapped, roughly equal to Kazama Chihime's cup size, possibly even slightly superior as it was less loose, appearing like the well-rounded single mother archetype.

While this behavior was quite impolite, it was instinctive, neither noticed by Minamoto Tamako nor the party involved, so it wasn't problematic.

"Alright, let's talk then."

From the heart, Fushimi Roku agreed readily.

He originally intended to see Doctor Arima, and since Doctor Arima was unavailable, seeking assistant Miyazaki Shizuka wasn't out of option.

"Please follow me."

Miyazaki Shizuka stood up, leading Fushimi Roku into the consultation room. Minamoto Tamako wanted to enter but was blocked at the door.

"Sorry, consultations are conducted solo."